When the British brought Christianity into Nigeria, little did they know that it will form an integral part of Nigeria. Thus making her one of the most religious nations on earth. Pastors who are religious frontmen are, for the most part, command loyalty from their sea of followers here in Nigeria.
For rendering spiritual solutions to the myriad of problems plaguing the average Nigerian, pastors receive their earthly rewards from their members, while that of the heavenly is a given.
These rewards come in varied forms. From car gifts to houses and real estate, there’s no limit to what a pastor can benefit from his/her members.
Today, the richest pastors in Nigeria are also the richest in the world, with five of them making it to Forbes list of the richest pastors in the world.
Without further ado, here are the top 10 richest pastors in Nigeria in 2020 and their net worth.
1. Bishop David Oyedepo (Net Worth: $150 Million)
Bishop David Oyedepo is Nigeria’s richest pastor and also the richest pastor in the world. He is the founder and presiding Bishop of Living Faith Church Worldwide A.K.A Winners Chapel. His church is one of the largest in Nigeria spanning over 300 locations across the 36 states of Nigeria. Approximately, the church has over 10,000+ branches across Nigeria and spread across 45 nations of the world.
Bishop Oyedepo champions the wealth agenda and is proudly known as a prosperity preacher. He was the first to build a 50,000 capacity church auditorium which broke the World Guinness Record in 2008 as the largest church auditorium in the world.
He is wealth personified and rakes in a fortune from his two universities (Covenant University and Landmark University), Dominion Publishing House, his large congregation made of the affluent middle/top class and his Canaan city which is arguably the richest and largest Christian estate in Africa.
He was once rumoured to own 4 private jets and spends a million naira every day. Bishop Oyedepo’s net worth is estimated at a staggering $150 million, which is 55 billion naira today.
2. Pastor Chris Oyakhilome (Net Worth: $80 Million)
Pastor Chris Oyakhilome is one of Nigeria’s richest pastors and indeed one of the most contemporary gospel teacher par excellence in this side of the world. He is the founder and senior pastor of Believer’s Loveworld A.K.A Christ Embassy. His church is in the frontline of the most influential churches in Nigeria with mega branches sprawling across the nation.
Pastor Chris is famed for his rare teaching gift, dapper looks, healing gifts and an intimidating aura that screams of prime wealth. His prodigious net worth springs up from running one of Africa’s largest faith-based conglomerate which includes a gospel record label, a publishing house, a 24-hour satellite TV, a creative arts academy, a healing school, a children ministry and many others. All of them bear the LoveWorld prefix in common.
He is unapologetically rich with a private jet, choice prime luxury estates, posh cars, an iconic white house mansion and a superfluous estimated net worth of $80 million. Approximately ₦29 billion.
3. Pastor Enoch Adeboye (Net Worth: $50 Million)
In a world filled with people assuming too much air, Papa Adeboye, as he is fondly called, is the model and emblem of humility. He is the most revered pastor in Nigeria and one of Nigeria’s richest pastors.
He is the General overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God – Nigeria’s biggest church in every sense of the word “Big”. And arguably the largest in the world. With branches in over 198 countries, it will naturally triumph on that argument.
Adeboye is blessed financially from Africa’s largest Christian congregation which he pastors. He is the pro-chancellor of Redeemer’s University and the landlord of Redemption Camp –the largest church estate in Nigeria. His books, audiotapes, publications and other gospel investments propel his net worth.
He has a private jet, lives in spontaneous affluence and has an estimated net worth of $50 million, which is ₦18 billion+.
4. Prophet T.B Joshua (Net Worth: $30 Million)
Call him controversial or the mystery pastor. One thing you can’t take away from Prophet Temitope Babatunde Joshua is the fact that he is one of the richest pastors in Nigeria. He is the founder of the Synagogue Church of all Nations which is akin to the biblical pool of Bethsaida where thousands of people from assorted tribes and race besiege daily for healing.
T.B Joshua is scarcely a prosperity preacher but wealth for him came as the inevitable. To drive this point home, he is addicted to philanthropy – spending more than half of his net worth on charity. He is arguably the biggest gospel philanthropist in Africa.
He is Africa’s famous pastor, YouTube famous pastor with over 400,000 subscribers and the owner of Emmanuel TV -the largest Christian TV network in Africa. He has no verifiable investments and shies away from Forbes dazzling spotlight. When Forbes named him the 3rd richest pastor in Nigeria a few years ago, he was quick to debunk it. His net worth is valued at $30 million (₦11 billion).
5. Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo (Net Worth: $20 million)
Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo is the founder and Senior Pastor of Kingsway International Christian Centre London (KICC). He pastors one of the largest congregations in the UK. Pastor Matthew is a dynamic preacher of God’s word and a prosperity crusader.
From being birthed to a Muslim family, he detoured into the Christian lane, managed a church in Nigeria and then went into the UK to establish one of its largest churches. He is reportedly going home annually with an income of $200,000 from his church.
A sizable chunk of his net worth stems from his Christian literature and documentation both from the staples of his media outfit. His church has branches in Nigeria with its headquarter in the UK. He is one of Nigeria’s richest pastors and is always present in Forbes listings. His net worth is estimated at an impressive $20 million, which is 7.3 billion in naira.
Read Also: Top 10 Richest People in Nigeria in 2020
6. Papa Ayodele Oritsejafor (Net Worth: $15 Million)
Popularly known as Papa Ayo for short, he is the founder and presiding Bishop of World of Life Bible Church in Warri, Southern Nigeria. Papa Ayo wields massive influence in the Christian community in Nigeria – a level he attained by becoming the first Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) president from the Pentecostal extraction. This was the sequel to him being the president of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN).
When it’s time for examples of luxurious pastors in Nigeria, Papa Ayo will effortlessly be the first instance. He has a private jet, some real estate investments, exotic cars and his Oritsejafor’s base in Warri is one massive property built from a fortune.
He has defeated lack by consistently being in God’s business for 30 years and counting. His net worth traces its sources to his large congregation, prime investments within and yonder, his books and other ministerial streams. Papa Ayo is one of the richest pastors in Nigeria and has an estimated net worth of $15 million. 5.5 billion naira
7. Rev. Chris Okotie (Net Worth: $10 Million)
This musician turned pastor is the founder and senior pastor of Household of God church, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria. Marked by sheer elegance and ministerial grace, Rev. Chris is one of the richest pastors in Nigeria.
His church is one of the most popular churches in Nigeria and renowned for playing host to many celebrities since he was once a celebrity. Although his church has a negligible presence across states in Nigeria and relatively on the average size of the population, Rev Chris is strikingly rich and his soft-spot for cars is mirrored in his garage.
We are thinking part of his net worth was laid on his pop music celebrity foundation in the ’80s and partly on his ministry. So wealthy is Rev Chris that he has vied for the office of the President of Nigeria four times. His net worth is estimated at $10 million, which is 3.6 billion naira.
8. Pastor Gbenga Oso (Net Worth: $5 Million)
It’s unimaginable how rich you can be when laughter is what you provide. Pastor Gbenga Oso is the founder of Laughter Foundation – a ministry anchored on the mission of putting barren women out of their miseries. His church is named – Laughter Foundation and he bears the nickname: father of a million babies.
Pastor Gbenga, by helping women conceive, rose to public consciousness and tipped the financial odds in his favour. Finding his name on the list of richest pastors in Nigeria isn’t a norm, hence a surprise. His net worth is estimated at $5 million (₦1.8 billion).
9. Bishop Mike Okonkwo (Net Worth: $3 Million)
Bishop Mike is a seasoned gospel preacher and one of the oldest in the list. He is the founder of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM) which is one of Nigeria’s biggest churches with more than 180 branches across the nation.
His net worth is a product of numerous spiritual investments on mentees, his large church network and his numerous publications (audio and literature).
Bishop Mike Okonkwo has an estimated net worth of $3 million (1.1 billion naira).
10. Pastor Lazarus Mouka (Net Worth: $2 Million)
Pastor Lazarus Mouka is the founder and general overseer of the Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Ministries. His church is the youngest in the list but is one of the biggest churches in Nigeria today attracting followers each passing day.
Headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria, the church has branches littered all over Nigeria. His members carry an undeniable presence everywhere they grace. With their signature radical moves in rallies and their attention courting attires, Chosen is indeed a gospel brand.
Pastor Lazarus isn’t much of a prosperity proponent but his calling came with the fame and of course the surprising net worth. His large congregation and literature are all streams of his fortune.
Pastor Lazarus Mouka’s net worth is valued at $2 million, which is ₦734 million.
